April 12, 2013
LOCAL NEWS
The News Journal
Survey: Teachers mostly happy
Delaware teachers are mostly satisfied with their work environment, though many have complaints about paperwork and training.
Just who gets how much at Christina issue’s core
The $2.3 million conflict between the Christina school board and the state over teacher bonuses boils down to a few simple issues: how should districts determine who the best teachers are, how many should be rewarded and how much of a bonus should each receive?
Editorial: Christina school board’s vote a rejection of reality
Which is best for struggling at-risk students in the 21st century: Teachers that have earned highly-qualified credentials or access to the latest computer technology, without them?
This week, the Christina School Board chose both with a veto of its promise to spend all of $2.3 million in federal Race to the Top education funds on supplying those students with the best teachers available.
Delaware Ed Blog: Student Pell grants are not chopped in Obama’s proposed budget
The proposed budget from President Barack Obama was released today. Many in higher education have been wondering what might happen with Pell grants.
These grants are often a large part of financial aid awards to needy students, and a significant cut would have been a concern for families — and for the colleges and universities that hope to enroll these students. At the University of Delaware faculty senate meeting earlier this week university president Patrick T. Harker mentioned cuts to Pell grants could be a cause for concern.
Letter to the Editor: The difficulty of raising student achievement
Raising performance levels while reducing the dropout rate is like cutting taxes and balancing the budget. It cannot be done. If standards are raised, many students discover that they lack the ability or drive to meet those standards, so they drop out.
RODEL FOUNDATION BLOG
TELL Delaware Highlights Positive Trends and Areas of Need
Survey results released today from the inaugural TELL (Teaching, Empowering, Leading, and Learning) Delaware study highlight that Delaware educators have favorable beliefs around areas such as professional expectations and handling student misconduct while voicing a greater need to be at the table when making critical decisions.
WDDE
Lt. Gov. Denn honors schools emphasizing parental engagement
Lieutenant Governor Matt Denn is honoring two schools in Delaware for getting parents more directly involved in their kids’ education.
Allen Frear Elementary School in Camden-Wyoming and Laurel High School are both receiving the “Excellence in Parental Involvement Award.” Denn established the award four years ago to recognize achievements in bridging the gap between home life and the classroom.
Teacher survey results “TELL” officials where they want to see improvement
Delaware’s educators are “telling” the state what could help them do their job better.
Delaware’s Department of Education released the results of the Teaching, Empowering, Leading, and Learning Survey, or TELL Survey, Thursday in Dover.
NATIONAL NEWS
Education Week
Obama Budget Would Invest in Pre-K, High School Overhaul
President Barack Obama’s budget unveiled today proposes new money for a big expansion of prekindergarten programs, a new competitive-grant program for high school improvement, a new Race to the Top competition focused on higher education—and level funding for the two formula grants school districts depend on most: Title I grants for disadvantaged students and special education.
Philadelphia Inquirer
Group wants Philly teacher, principal reforms
A newly-formed umbrella group of many of the city’s leading education nonprofits hopes to affect the upcoming Philadelphia teachers’ contract. The “Coalition for Effective Teaching,” made up of the Aspira Association, Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Education Voters of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Education Fund, Public Citizens for Children and Youth, The Urban League of Philadelphia and the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey has studied the current Philadelphia Federation of Teachers contract and is today announcing recommendations for changes, both for teachers and the Philadelphia School District management.